Diphtheria response criticised for not being fast enough

While Australia grapples with a growing diphtheria outbreak, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) has voiced concerns that the government's response, though now comprehensive, was initially too slow. NACCHO, representing 148 Aboriginal community-controlled health services, began urging government action in early April, alarmed by the rapid spread of the disease, particularly among Indigenous populations.

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We were really concerned about how fast it was spreading.

Dr. Dawn Casey, NACCHO's chief executive, acknowledged the recent multi-million-dollar funding boost and the establishment of weekly chief health officer meetings as positive steps. However, she stressed the critical need for faster responses in future public health crises. "They just do need to, in future, respond much more quickly than they have," she stated, highlighting the particular vulnerability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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We need to be much quicker for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Despite these criticisms, Dr. Casey expressed confidence that the outbreak can be contained within months, largely due to rapid vaccination efforts. However, she cautioned that the virus might persist in remote areas due to inadequate housing conditions within Aboriginal communities. The outbreak, with over 220 cases reported, primarily in the Northern Territory but also affecting Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland, serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing health disparities faced by Indigenous Australians and the imperative for swift, targeted public health interventions.

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The government has taken a number of weeks to respond but they have responded in a comprehensive way.